A bipartisan group of U.S. lawmakers has issued a stark warning to the Trump administration over the potential reduction of American troops serving with the NATO-led Kosovo Force (KFOR), amid mounting ethnic and political tensions in the Balkans. The letter, obtained exclusively by The Hill, underscores concerns that a drawdown could undermine stability not only in Kosovo but across the wider region.
The letter, sent Thursday to Marco Rubio, who also serves as national security adviser, comes as a rare moment of unity among Democrats and Republicans on key foreign policy and armed services committees. Lawmakers stressed that reports of U.S. plans to reduce its KFOR presence risk destabilizing Kosovo, particularly in light of stalled EU-led dialogue efforts between Belgrade and Pristina.
“Given no meaningful progress in the Belgrade-Pristina Dialogue, a troop reduction removes leverage that could force a return to negotiations,” the lawmakers wrote. They also cautioned that a diminished U.S. presence “may embolden actors who view Western disengagement as an opportunity to sow unrest.”
The letter was led by Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and Rep. Mike Turner (R-Ohio), a member of the House Armed Services Committee. Other signatories include Sens. Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), and Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), along with House members Gregory Meeks (D-N.Y.), Brendan Boyle (D-Pa.), Rick Larsen (R-Wash.), and Ann Wagner (R-Mo.).
Currently, the U.S. maintains almost 600 troops in KFOR, commanding the mission’s Regional Command East. A NATO official confirmed that there are no planned changes to troop levels at this time, emphasizing that KFOR continues to support security and stability in Kosovo and the broader region.
“KFOR, including U.S. forces, plays a fundamental role in ensuring lasting security across Kosovo and regional stability,” the official said.
KFOR was deployed in 1999 to oversee the withdrawal of Serbian troops following the Kosovo War. While tensions have fluctuated over the years, recent developments—including stalled normalization talks and rising ethnic tensions in northern Kosovo—have heightened concerns among U.S. policymakers.
The lawmakers also cited instability in neighboring Bosnia and Herzegovina, particularly in Republika Srpska, where former president Milorad Dodik has promoted secessionist and anti-Muslim rhetoric. Last month, Dodik welcomed the election of his ally Siniša Karan to the presidency of Republika Srpska, promising decisive action against “enemies,” further fueling fears of unrest.
“Against this backdrop of escalating rhetoric, even the perception of an American drawdown from KFOR may embolden nationalist agendas in Kosovo and Serbia, as well as separatist ambitions in Republika Srpska, undermining state cohesion and increasing the risk of a political-security crisis,” the letter warned.
The lawmakers emphasized that the U.S. contribution of approximately 500 troops to the 5,000-strong KFOR mission, though relatively small, has an outsized impact on maintaining peace and stability. They called on Secretary Rubio to provide clarity on U.S. policy and to maintain troop levels to safeguard American national security interests in the western Balkans.
As ethnic tensions persist and Russian influence continues to exploit divisions in the region, Washington’s role in Kosovo remains critical for deterring conflict and supporting European-led security initiatives.